Improvement in dou ble-actsgn pianos



.striker F is the pedal-lever H.

UNITED STATES PATENT ErrcE.

JOHN JOSEPH BENDER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO IIIBISELF,

GEORGE MEULLEE, ANI) HENRY J. ISANGS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE-ACTHON tgl/ANOS.

Speciiication forming partei' Letters Patent No. 57,43% dated August 21, 1566.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN JOSEPH BENDER, of the city, county, and State ot' New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement iu Double-Action Piano-Fortes; and Ido hercby declare the same is fully described and represented in the following specification andthe accompanying drawing, which exhibits a sectional view oi' the operative parts of a pianoforte with my invention applied to it.

This invention relates to a peculiar kind of piano-forte, in which one set ot' keys is made to perform the part of playin g two piano-fortes at one and the same time, or one or either of them, as desired, said piano-forte being in eX- ternal shape and size similar to that of an ordinary piano-forte; and this l accomplish by placing in a-piano-t'orte case two sets ot' strings with their appendages, and between them the set of keys or levers with their hammers, which, on touching the keys, will strike the upper piano-forte or set of strings and the lower piano-forte or set of strings at one and the same time, and thus two piano-fortes are played by one performer, and by one and the same operation, and at the same time.

Having` described the nature of my invention, I will now describe its construction and for the purpose ot' bringing the hammer, after striking, back to its previous position in relation to the key and strings. There is also in connection with the key and striker, but a-ttached to the key, what piano-forte makers term a catcher,77 G, the object of the catcher being to retain the hammer F about midway between the strings and keys after the hammer has struck, and while the key A yet rests on the front or stop rail, D.

In connection with the weighted end of the rIhis pedallever swings on a pivot at its center, while at its inner end it is connected by means of a rod with the pedal-foot below the piano, the object of this lever being to sustain the weighted end of the hammer F when the hammer slips from the catcher G, as well as to bring the hammers of the piano or forte portion of the instrument on their corresponding strings, for the purpose of preventing too much sound while performing on the other portion, said pedal being operated in the usual manner.

I is the bridge-plane,in which the strainingpins t are inserted, and to which the strings t" are attached. J is a bridge on the bridgeplane I, over which the strings t pass. K is the sound-board, ou which is placed the soundboard bridge L' and the iron piu-plate I, in the ordinary manner. M is the damper-rail, to which the damper-lever N is hinged, and O is the damper-litter attached to the key A, the said damper-lifter being operated by a pedal connected with the damper-rail.

The above description relates to the lower piano-forte or set of strings with their appendages, and to describe the upper piano-forte or upper set ot` strings with their appendages would be but a repetition, with the exception that the hammers of the upper piano-forte strike upward in the usual manner, while the hammers ot' the lower piano-torte strike downward on touching the keys, as shown in the drawing. Y

I would here remark that for the purpose ot' repairing the machinery of, as well as for tuning, my piano-forte the frame-work is divided into sections, shown by the lines .r x and y y, in which the upper section, Y, with the cover, is entirely removed from the frame, and the middle section, XY, turned backward on its hinge or pivot 1n, when required, for the purposes already stated.

The operation oi' my piano-forte is very simple, and is as follows: On touching the keyA the weighted player or tripping-lever E ot' the lower piano, as well as the tripping-lever of the upper piano, actuate the hammers or strikers ofthe lower piano and the strikers ot' the upper piano at the same time, the sets ot' hammers, on rebounding from the strings, being caught by the catchers of the upper and lowei` pianos, and held between the said strings and keys until the key is again raised, when the polls of the hammers will rest on or against their respective dampers.

From the above it will be seen that with one set of keys and the appendages connected therewith I produce an instrument equal to two piano-fortes, which can be played together at one and at the same time, or one or either ot' them, as desired, and by one performer. One of the piano-fortes may be so constructed or tuned as to play a third, t'th, or an octave above or below the other, and thus a powerful body of harmony is obtained, which renders my piano-forte of value and importance to large public concert-halls, theaters, dac.

A2 mueca Havingdescribed myinvention, whatIclailn, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

rlhe above construction and arrangement of an instrument combining two piano -fortes, which are played together at one and the same time, and by one set of keys, substantially as described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set rny signature.

JOHN JOSEPH BENDER.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. BANGs, A. NEILL. 

